Who Are You Bowing To? (Spiritual Eyes to See)

Now, RIGHT NOW, is when many of God’s people are standing in front of a giant. Right now, everything we’ve ever talked about and sang about is being tested. Right now, there is a choice to be made. Do we believe God and His word? Or do we believe what we see and what the world is telling us?

Right now, we have a chance to shine. To stand out. To be SET APART from the world. Right now, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the peace, hope, strength, authority and FREEDOM that come with being in Christ. Not in theory, in REALITY.

For those who may have thought their relationship with the Lord was just a “part” of their life, a facet of who they are, something they identify by, but not necessarily LIVE by, this is a WAKE-UP call.

It is not reality to believe you will be able to be in Christ and get along with the world. Pastors should’ve been teaching this all along, but they haven’t (minus a select few). We should’ve been getting prepared and equipped for this all along, but we weren’t. That’s why this is rattling so many in the Church because they didn’t see it coming. But, God did.

“And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” -Matt 10:22

The Bible clearly tells us in the end days (which we ARE in, like it or not), the Church will face persecution like it never has before. Look around you. LOOK. It is happening. Right now. But, you have to have spiritual eyes to see it.

Right now, a line is being drawn. Between those who are with God and those who are not. There is going to be no more double-mindedness. No more fence-riding. No more lukewarm believers. Either you’re with Him or you’re not. And NOW is the time to decide.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” -Matt 12:30

Again, unfortunately, many believers can’t see this or haven’t been aware of it because they have not been equipped for it. They are going by what the world tells them. Watching the news and listening to man’s advice and directions. But, that IS the test. The test IS who do you believe?

We are all standing in front of a “giant,” but the scary part is that some (if not, many) don’t even know it. You ARE Daniel being told not to pray. You ARE Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being asked to bow before the statue of the king. Right now. With how you choose to respond to this “crisis.” Do you believe the Lord and walk in that freedom or do you “bow”?

The saddest thing I’ve seen is how CHRISTIANS are attacking other believers who ARE standing in that authority and freedom. Calling them ignorant and irresponsible. For standing on the Word of God.

The scariest thing is how quickly everyone is “bowing” and allowing man to rule and control things. Again, if you think you can follow God and not have to go against man, you’re deceived. Don’t believe me? Go back and read the New Testament. Why do you think the disciples were constantly on the run? Constantly hiding? Why were they arrested and put in jail? For going AGAINST the rules.

Read Acts 4. In verse 18, “they call the apostles in and command them never to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.” And Peter and John’s response is, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

In Acts 5, they continue to perform signs and wonders as they preach and the rulers arrest them and put them in jail. An angel of the Lord frees them and guess what they immediately do? Go right back to the temple and start teaching again!

Go back to the Old Testament and read Daniel 6. In verse 7, all the administrators of the land say, “We are all in agreement - we administrators, officials, high officers, advisors and governors - that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next 30 days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human - except to you, your majesty - will be thrown into the den of lions.” Daniel’s response? “When Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down AS USUAL in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, giving thanks to God.”

The apostles got arrested. Daniel got thrown in the lions den. The 3 Hebrew boys got thrown in the furnace. But the Lord freed the apostles. He protected Daniel. He saved the boys. He honored their faith and rewarded them.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -Matt 5:10-12

This past Sunday, a pastor got arrested and put in jail for continuing to have service at his church (DESPITE the fact that they went above and beyond with seating arrangements, sanitizer, etc.) and he went to jail. Connect the dots.

I’m sure this is why many pastors DID quickly abide by the rules because they were afraid of exactly that. But, when we look at the Biblical examples, what does God reward? How are we supposed to be acting? Who are we supposed to be following?

The blindness comes though because it’s not obvious. It’s under the guise of a “health concern.” So, even believers are fooled into thinking they need to make these compromises to stay safe. Which is why AGAIN it’s so important to be in God’s Word. So you understand that you ARE protected by Jesus’ blood and you understand WHY. So, then you can’t be shaken.

It’s time for the Church to wake up. It’s time for the a Church to open their eyes and SEE what’s actually going on. And it’s time for us to stand in boldness, authority and power.

“In God, whose word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” -Ps. 56:4

It might be tempting to think, why do I have to be that extreme? Can’t I just love God and get along with everyone too and not cause trouble? Believe me, I understand. But again, Jesus doesn’t mince words on the matter.

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” -James 4:4

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” -Matt 7:21

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” -1 John 2:15

The time is now. God in His awesome love, mercy and grace is giving His Church a chance now to come out of compromise. To stop mixing with the world and to give Him their full hearts. Because when the day of judgment comes, what everyone else thought of us won’t matter. All that will matter is what we did and who we really believed and trusted in our hearts.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” -2 Cor 5:10

Don’t wait. Decide now. Choose now. Run to Him! He will protect you. He will honor you. And He will not fail you. 💜